Cheslie Kryst, a correspondent for Extra and winner of the 2019 Miss USA pageant, died Sunday in New York City. She was 30.
“In devastation and great sorrow, we share the passing of our beloved Cheslie. Her great light was one that inspired others around the world with her beauty and strength,” her family said in a statement to Urban Hollywood 411.
“She cared, she loved, she laughed and she shined. Cheslie embodied love and served others, whether through her work as an attorney fighting for social justice, as Miss USA and as a host on Extra. But most importantly, as a daughter, sister, friend, mentor and colleague – we know her impact will live on,” the statement continued.
Police told the New York Post Kryst took her life by jumping from the 29th story of the Orion building at 350 W. 42nd St. in Midtown Manhattan around 7:15 a.m. The outlet reported the former beauty queen left a note giving everything to her mother, but did not explain why she took her life.
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Hours before her death, she posted a photo of herself on Instagram with the caption: “May this day bring you rest and peace.”
After being crowned Miss USA, Kryst was hired as a correspondent for entertainment news magazine show Extra in October 2019.
In a statement Sunday, the staff at Extra said: “Our hearts are broken. Cheslie was not just a vital part of our show, she was a beloved part of our Extra family and touched the entire staff. Our deepest condolences to all her family and friends.”
Before becoming Miss USA and later launching an entertainment journalism career, Kryst worked as an attorney practicing complex civil litigation. She earned both her law degree and MBA from Wake Forest University, and was a track and field athlete as an undergrad at the University of South Carolina.
Kryst was active in her community, including sitting on the National Board of Directors for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and serving as a Global Impact Ambassador for Dress for Success, a nonprofit that provides professional clothing for low-income women as they search for jobs.
She also ran a fashion blog called “White Collar Glam” that gave fashion advice to women in professional roles. Her final post on the blog was written in August 2021.
If you or someone you know needs helps, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255). It is a free, 24/7 confidential service that can provide people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress, or those around them, with support, information and local resources.
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